The Momnificent™ Blog

Momnificent! Debuts on Television for the First Time Ever!

Momnificent! is on TV tonight, September 15, 2011!

For the first time ever, Lori Radun, founder of Momnificent!, appears on television tonight!  Watch as mom coach Lori Radun shows moms how to create momnificence in all areas of their lives.  Through authenticity, growth, harmony, freedom and inspiration, women can be empowered to live the lives they've always wanted to.

This is a show you will not want to miss!  Airing on BYUtv's Fresh Take, Lori will be doing a Momnificent! makeover for Heather, a beautiful mom of four children.  She will show Heather, who is exhausted from taking care of everyone else, how making her life a priority will not only bring joy to her, but to her family and her entire community.

The 30 minute episode will air at 5:30 PM MST, 6:30 PM CST, 4:30 PM PST, and 7:30 PM EST.

Check your local cable channel guide for BYUtv

Let the Simple Blessings in Life Touch Your Heart

Today was my day to spend some quality time with my great friend Donna.  We always meet at our local Starbucks.  She gets coffee with ice cubes and I get hot chocolate made with skim milk and whipped cream. As I sat sprawled sideways in one of their comfy chairs, one leg hanging over the arm of the chair, a lively woman walks in.  She walks up to me, flashes me a great big smile, and says "You look comfy!"  I said to her "Well, I am!", as I grinned back at her.

She said "What is your name?"  I told her my name is Lori.  She wanted to know how I spelled it, and so I told her.  Her kindness fascinated me and so I asked her name.  "Jean", she said.  "Oh Hi Jean", I said.  "Not Hygiene, just Jean".  Very witty, this woman was.  She went on to inquire about my friend's name, and then said "Isn't it beautiful today?"  I looked outside at the gray skies, and had to be honest with myself.  It wasn't exactly what I called a beautiful day.  But Jean made the day beautiful.

Jean went on to tell Donna and I that she was celebrating this month - it was her birthday month.  Jean had turned 80 this month.  As she danced around in her argyle knee socks and blue jean knickers and blue jean hat, it was clear she was happy to be alive.  Jean walked away for a few moments but then she returned to show us one of her simple pleasures in life.  She presented us with a small but scrumptious looking red velvet cake with white icing in the middle.  When Jean later left, she waved goodbye enthusiastically like Donna and I were her new best friends.

Jean came to Starbucks today to enjoy her red velvet cake and read her book.  Little did she know that her spirit left a lasting imprint on another human being's heart today.  The gift of her smile, her enthusiasm for life, and her genuine kindness and connection with the human spirit blessed my life.

What simple blessings do you miss in your everyday life?  How can you open your heart to embrace those gifts that are there to leave fingerprints on your heart?  How can YOU be the fingerprints on another person's heart today?

Win SARK's New Book or 2 Tickets to her Practical Gladness Workshop in Chicago

WIN 2 TICKETS TO SARK'S WORKSHOP OR A SIGNED COPY OF HER NEW BOOK "GLAD NO MATTER WHAT"

Contest Details:

Complete the following sentence in the comment section:

Maybe I could be more willing to...

Contest Ends:  Thursday, April 7th at 1:00 PM CST

 

Practical Gladness Workshop with SARK~ Sunday April 10th 2 – 5 pm

April 10, 2011

2pm - 5pm

Portage Theater
4050 N. Milwaukee Avenue
Chicago, IL 

Ticket Cost: $40 with discount code CHICAGO

Register at: www.positivefocusproductions.com

 

In nature, spring is a time of rebirth and growth, but in our society, and in this economy it’s a time to start worrying about many things:  getting your body in shape for the beach, growing your savings account, eating right to slim down, getting that new job or new boyfriend or new house. If that sounds stressful, you’re not alone. There’s always something to worry about, and it can be exhausting and defeating. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could find a way to turn uncertainty, fear and stress into gifts and opportunities? You’re in luck with this workshop: Experience a day of worry-free inspiration at “Practical Gladness — GLAD No Matter What: Has Happened, Will Happen, Might Happen,” a trade show and workshop with bestselling author SARK

SARK (short for Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy) calls herself a perfectionist but also admits to being a procrastinator. She calls this “splendid imperfection,” a concept that pervades her work. She started writing when she was 10, and all her books, even those she’s written in adulthood, belie her childlike wonder at the world around her: She “measures time by mugs of tea” and still happily remembers her role as “wake-up fairy” in kindergarten. She’s all about napping. She recently threw a huge pajama party to raise money for a favorite charity. Doesn’t that sound like a lady you could learn a little something from?

SARK’s workshop, put on by Positive Focus Productions, isn’t about acting happy when you’re so not feeling it; it’s about “finding the glad parts in all your feelings, and feeling glad more often, and living in the messy, marvelous middle.” The event will take place at the historic Portage Theater on Chicago’s northwest side. The doors open at noon with a trade show, and a workshop follows from 2 to 5 p.m. SARK will sign books to wrap up the event. And the Portage Theater is a perfect place to get inspired: It features a 1920s beaux-arts design, great acoustics and plenty of space to spend the day mentoring, being mentored, giving and receiving support, and practicing self-love and self-care. The theater makes for a wonderful spot to learn to see the world through SARK-colored glasses and make spring your time for rebirth and growth.

In this 3-Hour Workshop...You will learn and experience:

• Specific and real concrete solutions to challenges
• Practicing self-love and exquisite self-care
• Mentoring and being mentored by other wise souls
• Learning to receive and give uncommon support

Discount Code for Momnificent! Readers

Positive Focus is offering a $5 discount code for Momnificent! readers. You can enter the discount code CHICAGO to receive a $5 discount on SARK’s 3-hour workshop.

The "To Be" List

 

A weary mom reached out to me recently and said "I want to have good feelings about doing what it takes each day..."  And she went on to elaborate "I feel like I have so much to do, I want to do it, it is just too big and I make the littlest dent after tremendous effort."  My heart went out to this mom.  And I know from my experience of working with moms that this is such a common feeling.  So many moms are focused on the "to do" list.  And we measure ourselves based on how much of this "to do" list we get completed in a given day. The problem is we are not a human doing, and all kinds of things can come up that get in the way of accomplishing our "to do" list.

I'll give you an example.  My son Ian has been home from school since before Thanksgiving on a doctor issued medical cert.  Did I plan for that to happen?  Not at all.  My life has been turned upside down as I have tried to manage the needs of a special needs child and his home schooling, a business, and a home through the holidays.  Are you laughing yet?  There were days I walked through my house and it was such a mess that all I wanted to do was crawl back in bed and go back to sleep.  I couldn't possibly DO everything that needed to be done.

Moms, we have to surrender to the fact that we are human BEINGS and start a new kind of list - a "To Be" list.  I started thinking about all the things that we moms can be if we practice...some of these things probably come natural.

1. To be kind
2. To be loving
3. To be SELF-loving
4. To be creative
5. To be joyful
6. To be happy
7. To be quiet and still
8. To be relaxed
9. To be patient
10. To be free
11. To be honest
12. To be fun
13. To be funny
14. To be appropriately angry
15. To be sad
16. To be confident
17. To be courageous
18. To be inspired
19. To be tired and rest
20. To be ambitious
21. To be peaceful
22. To be empowered
23. To be needed
24. To be needy
25. To be loved
26. To be pampered
27. To be appreciated
28. To be adventurous
29. To be playful
30. To be spiritual
31. To be mindful
32. To be beautiful
33. To be healthy
34. To be communicative
35. To be flexible
36. To be independent
37. To be romantic
38. To be respected
39. To be fulfilled
40. To be open
41. To be intimate
42. To be sensitive
43. To be authentic
44. To be connected
45. To be organized
46. To be productive
47. To be disciplined
48. To be present
49. To be blessed
50. TO BE

So imagine if you were to wake up in the morning and not worry so much about your "to do" list, and instead just pick one thing from this "TO BE" List.  Focus for the entire day on being whatever it is you picked, and see how your day goes.  My guess it is easier to be, than to do.  I'm also guessing that your to do list might become easier as you focus on just being fulfilled, happy or patient.  I don't know. Give it a try and let me know how it goes.

Who do you want TO BE today?

Gifts that Last

As the gift-giving season rolls around, is it possible to get through the holidays without buying the latest “As Seen on TV” item or risk getting trampled by the locals at the nearest department store?

It is. And the truth is that if you focus that same effort into giving sentimental gifts, both you and the receiver will recognize how much more valuable a gift from the heart can be. The process of pulling such a project together often brings as much pleasure to the gift-giver as it does to the one to whom it is given. These gift ideas are great, not only during the holiday season, but for the many gift-giving opportunities you have year round.

Try creating some of these uniquely personal gifts using your digital photos:

• Create a scrapbook, either digitally or by hand. Tell your own story, sharing the first year of a baby’s life, a wedding, from the first date to the exchange of vows, or as a graduation gift.  
• Craft a hardback book made up only of your photos and captions. They range in size from 16 pages to as large as coffee table books. For the photography buff in your life, a book of this magnitude can showcase a lifetime of favorite photos, and serve as great portfolios.   
• Construct a photo collage poster, forming your own souvenir from a favorite event. Take your own photos while attending that event, planning them in advance. For example: the scoreboard at the end of a championship game; of your favorite team holding the trophy; of your family in the stands all decked out in team colors; or a close up shot of the souvenir tickets.
• Design a personalized photo quilt or blanket to commemorate a particular family reunion or special occasion. Have it monogrammed with names and dates.
• Make your child the hero of his own story by writing it yourself, adding photos and locations that will personalize it just for him. There are already assembled craft books that allow you to do this by hand, or you might use one of the photo services that form a hardback book for you.

Other gifts that are truly priceless, as well as timeless, are listed below:

• If you are great with a video camera and know how to edit film, you can share your story through video, including interviews, birthday parties, past holiday celebrations, and other family milestones. Though a project of this magnitude is time-consuming, a gift such as this will be treasured by the entire family forever.
• Transfer old home movies to DVD format. This allows you to separate the events in your lifetime into various “chapters,” or scenes, so you can find them easily and watch them regularly. These treasures become more valuable with time, and portray your family history in a permanent and moving way. For silent movies,  add captions or music to enhance the story.
• Purchase a recordable storybook and record your child reading it for grandparents who may live a long distance away, to capture that young voice forever. Or, a relative in the military, stationed overseas, may wish to record their own voice so your child can hear them read a favorite story night after night. 
• Record your family singing songs together, favorite hymns or doing personal interviews, and burn a CD of it. The gift of a child’s voice explaining their life as a kindergartener or the voice of a grandparent describing, in their own words, favorite childhood memories; these are the gifts that are truly irreplaceable. 

Janet is the author of the book, The Parent's Guide to Uncluttering Your Home, scheduled to be released early in 2011. She currently writes on such topics as faith, family, writing, teen issues, and of course, the process of uncluttering. Janet launched Abbandoned Ministries late in 2010, which leads others to seek God, as Abba, during times of abandonment. For additional information, visit her websites at http://www.abbandoned.com or http://janetmorrisgrimes.com. 

The Benefits of Family Recreation

Here is a guest post I've done for Sue over at Chocolate Cake Club's Blog called Chocolate Cake Moments:

I met another Mom a week or so ago who is following her passion and living out loud. Allow me to introduce Lori Radun of Momnificent.com, who is our FIRST EVER guest blogger. We found over coffee that we have several similarities, most importantly that we are both passionate about the importance of family time. Here is her very convincing take on why it’s so important:

The Benefits of Family Recreation

With more and more structured activities taking up our children’s time, this leaves little time for family recreation. Linda has two girls; one is eight years old and the other is ten. Each girl can be involved in up to three different extracurricular activities during the school year. Whether it is music lessons, gymnastics or swimming, there is hardly time to do anything together as a family. Sure, mom and dad juggle the responsibilities of getting each child to their respective activities and they stay to watch the practices or meets, but they are not truly interacting with their girls. Competitive activities such as these have replaced family recreation.

Family recreation would be defined as a pleasurable or relaxing activity done together as a family. Examples would be having a picnic together at a local park, going on a hike together in the woods, or exploring a fun museum together on a Saturday afternoon. You don’t have to leave the house to enjoy family recreation. You can play board games together, kick the soccer ball around in the backyard, or blow bubbles on the front porch. These activities in a child’s life, I would venture to say, are far more important than any structured extracurricular activity, primarily because they are spent with us, but for many other reasons as well.

Read More on Chocolate Cake Moments

Summer Safety Checklist

Kookie Krums is Giving Away YUMMY Free Cookies!

 

 

Kookie Krums has been a landmark in Dunedin Florida since 1992. Owned by the very creative Janet Long, this mom-run business provides personalized gift services to individuals and businesses that are looking for the perfect gift. You've probably sent flowers to people for special occasions countless times, but we create the perfect alternative to sending flowers with delicious gourmet COOKIE arrangements. What could be better than receiving a beautiful and yummy gift in a gorgeous keepsake container?! We hand deliver locally, just like a florist, and we also ship nationwide. We are excited to be joining with Momnificent to offer some great giveaways, perfect for all of you busy mamas . . . details are at the end of this post!
 
I haven't always been into making cookies. I was very happy in my business career. When my daughter was one, numerous illnesses forced me to quit my job and become a stay at home mom virtually overnight to take care of her. At least it felt like it happened overnight. I had never intended to be a stay at home mom, although I do admire the women who choose to do that.  After being home with her for a year, I still had not discovered my "niche." Being a full time homemaker just didn't seem to fit, and I was anxious for a creative outlet. When Kelly, the creator of Kookie Krums, decided to sell her business, she came to me. It was a perfect fit, and everything fell into place immediately. In April of 2007, I became the proud new owner of Kookie Krums! Along with a new owner came a new perspective, fresh ideas, and a very strong passion for taking this fantastic shop to the next level. You can see my passion when you walk in the door of my shop. We are constantly finding new merchandise that is one-of-a-kind, boutique gifts that far surpass those standard "mall gifts," and innovative ways to decorate, arrange, and package cookies and gourmet treats to make a spectacular presentation. Our customers generally become both customers for life, and dear friends. We've celebrated together, and through cookies, when babies have been born, new homes have been bought, sicknesses have been endured, and victories have been won. 

My daughter is now five, and my hubby and I also have a precious little foster daughter who is three. We are praying she will soon become a permanent member of our family. It was a long journey for us to have our family. With five sweet babies in heaven before us, we are cherishing this time with our girls, and I am grateful every day for the gift of my daughters. Being a mom and a business owner are two dreams that I am thrilled have been fulfilled.

Because I’m in the same position as most, if not all of you, are of having the never-ending to do list and the very full calendar, I offer great solutions for over-scheduled moms. Just because we’re busy doesn’t mean we don’t want that perfect gift or the extra special touch, right?! Did you sign up to bring dessert to the class party? We can fill a bakery box with cookies that will be devoured in seconds. Need a cookie cake and some treat bags for your child’s classroom birthday party? We have you covered! Party favors, teacher gifts, recital bouquets, team mascot cookies, cake walks, and bake sales, we have everything you need! The nice thing is, we do all of the work for you. You just have to swing by to pick up your order, or have us deliver it. Not only will you be the hit of the party, you’ll be the cool mom who always gets those fantastic cookies!!
 
The concept for the cookie arrangement has been done before, but not on such a creative and delicious scale. We design unique cookie creations in containers such as hand painted flower pots, baskets or three-dimensional cartons. We will even personalize your selection with names, events or your company logo. There are different types of containers to fit personal interests or hobbies, something special for everyone.  We have seven delicious flavors of cookies: chocolate chip, double chocolate (a chocolate cookie with milk & white chocolate chunks), white chocolate macadamia nut, peanut butter, oatmeal raisin, M&M, and of course... sugar. Our delicious cookies are baked fresh daily, sealed individually and arranged in a beautiful floral-like bouquet. Our signature gift is a cookie arrangement in a hand painted flower pot. Our flower pots have always been hand painted by local artists, who are also moms themselves, and become special keepsake and collection pieces. It's so fun when a seven year old will come into the store and say "Hey, that's my flower pot, it's in my room! I've had it for seven years!!"
 
Our photo cookies are excellent marketing tools and fabulous party favors. We can imprint any JPEG file onto the cookie with frosting. Our sugar cookies are frosted, then the image is applied. The result is both unique and delicious! Perfect for everything from company logos to birthday pictures, these are one of our most popular requests for special events. We love working with our clients to create the perfect event. From weddings, to baby showers, to birthday parties, we can create centerpieces, party favors, and dessert trays.

 
Kookie Krums' Chocolate Chip Cookies were voted the Best in Tampa Bay by Fox 13, and we are consistently voted Best Cookies in Tampa Bay by Tampa Bay Magazine. Visit us online at www.kookiekrums.com, or pull up a kitchen stool and chat for a while on our blog, www.kookiekrums.typepad.com. You can also become a fan on Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Dunedin-FL/Kookie-Krums/94983047992?ref=ts, and get up to the minute information on the happenings!!

CONTEST PARTICULARS:
 
We are thrilled to offer several giveaways. One lucky person will receive a cookie arrangement in one of our hand painted flower pots, along with a $15 gift certificate. You can have this delivered or shipped to yourself, or as a special gift for someone. Five other lucky individuals will receive a $10 gift certificate to use towards the start of what will surely become your new addiction!

To enter the Kookie Krums giveaway, visit Momnificent’s Facebook fan page – The Chocolate Fix and tell me your favorite kind of Kookie Krum cookie!  This contest ends Wednesday, April 28^th, 2010 just in time for the winners to send a beautiful cookie gift for Mother’s Day!

 

 

When Mama Doesn't Get "Me Time"

What exactly does “me time” mean?  To each mom it has a different meaning.  To some it means going out with the girls, to others it may mean being able to just read a book for a half hour.  Sometimes being a mom doesn’t allow a lot of time for you.  Moms usually can find any number of reasons why “me time” just doesn’t happen very often for them.  Some moms may use the excuses I’m too tired or I’m behind on things as it is.  If I take “me time” I will never get caught up.  The biggest reason moms skip “me time” is feeling guilty about taking time away from their family. 

We as mothers tend to put ourselves last on the list of our never ending list of things to do, but creating the time for ourselves is important.  When you don’t have any time for yourself, life tends to overwhelm you easier than if you had the necessary time to recharge yourself.  A stressed out and unhappy mommy is not healthy for anyone in the family.

Why should you put yourself #1 on your “to do” list?

• Taking time to recharge and relax actually makes you more productive.
• You will be fully available physically and emotionally for your family.
• You will meet the demands of the day with clarity and patience.
• You will feel empowered to handle whatever comes your way.
• You will be an amazing model of self-care for your children.
• It will increase your confidence and decrease depression and anxiety.

 

Ways To Fit “Me Time” Into Your Day

Here are a few ways that may help you find the time for “me time”:

1. Enlist the help of a friend or family member.  Have the neighbor come over for 20 minutes and you go for a walk.  This is good for your peace of mind and your body.
   

2. Wake up 30 minutes early and enjoy the quiet in your house before the chaos of getting your kids up and going starts.

3. Enforcing bedtime gives you that hour or two every night when you can enjoy doing some things for yourself whether it be surfing the Internet, or watching a movie.

4. Locking yourself in the bathroom for 10 minutes is a quick way to gain a few moments of peace in a hectic day.  Keep magazines or a book in the bathroom and catch up on your reading.

5. Find another mom and take turns watching each other’s kids for an hour or two.  By doing this once a week, you will eliminate some stress and get the desired “me time” to recharge your system.  Knowing you can look forward to this time each week will help you thru the times that maybe you can’t have the time to yourself.

6. Reserve one day a week or every other week to get together with friends.  Your friends keep you grounded and can help you see things from a different perspective.  You can share your worries and frustrations which helps to release energy that drags you down.

7. Laugh and dance.  Even if you do this with your children, you will feel better.  Some days are complete chaos and laughing and dancing can help relieve the stress of the day.  Your kids will love to see you cut lose and act silly.  Get in touch with your inner child!

8. Exercising is another great way to improve your mood.  Find a gym that has a daycare and take advantage of it for 30 minutes or an hour.  Your kids will have fun playing with new friends and you get the necessary time to take care of yourself.

9. Find a reliable babysitter.  Leaving your kids with someone is hard sometimes so ask other moms whom they use for a babysitter.  Then look at your calendar, and schedule those days with your babysitter.  Aim for getting out for a couple hours once a week. 

10. Going to the grocery story, BY YOURSELF, is also a great way to have some “me time”.  It is something that you have to do anyway.  Don’t just rush thru it though; take your time and just browse.  Maybe stop some place else before you go grocery shopping.  TAKE ADVANTAGE of grocery shopping time and use it as the time you need for yourself.

Not enough time in the day, everybody else needs you; if I don’t do it who will and guilt are the excuses we use not to take “me time”.  We as moms need to realize how important it is to take care of ourselves.  It is okay to put yourself first.  It is okay to set aside 30 minutes a day to do something just for you.  The laundry won’t go anywhere so whether you do it now or 30 minutes from now, it really doesn’t matter.  It will still get done.

When you realize how much better you will handle everyday life once you do take the necessary time for yourself, you will feel more in control, and you will start enjoy things in your family life again.  Your kids will see a mommy that is less stressed and more fun.  Your husband will see the woman he married and not the stressed out “mom” that walks around upset all the time.

Take the time for yourself and put you back on the priority list.  You are worth it!

Lori and Ian Break Boards for a New Belt in Tae Kwon Do

In this video, I am breaking 3 boards for my red belt in Tae Kwon Do.  Next to me is my son Ian, also breaking 3 boards to get his high brown belt.